The specific objectives of this project are to a) assemble existing mussel, water quality, and landscape level (e.g., GIS) data bases; b) conduct expert interviews, targeted mussel surveys, and habitat assessments; c) develop an integrated model to predict species occupancy and to identify specific stream segments for conservation, restoration, and augmentation; and d) validate and refine the model for applicability to other species and geographic regions. Results of this project will be used to develop scientifically defensible estimates of the stream network needing conservation to support mussel recovery; identify specific factors limiting recovery of federally-listed mussels in a watershed manner; enable predictions and hypothesis testing associated with mussel occupancy and distribution associated with changes in habitat (degradation or restoration) at the instream, riparian, or watershed spatial scales; and refine sampling strategies for rare mussels.
